15-Day Ultimate Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday

15-Day Ultimate Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday : Tanzania Bush to Beach Package

Embark on the ultimate East African adventure with our 15-Day Best of Tanzania & Zanzibar Safari. This Tanzania safari itinerary is the ultimate Tanzania bush to beach package. Experience world-class game drives across Tanzania’s famed Northern Safari Circuit—including Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, and Lake Manyara—before unwinding on the turquoise waters and white-sand beaches of exotic Zanzibar Island.

Daily Itinerary Breakdown

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha & Safari Briefing

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), your professional safari guide will greet you with a warm Tanzanian welcome. After a brief orientation session outlining your upcoming adventure, you will be transferred to your hotel in Arusha to check in, unwind, and prepare for the journey ahead.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury: Gran Meliá Arusha
  • Mid-Range: Zawadi House Lodge
  • Budget: Burka Coffee Lounge
• Meal Plan: Dinner included

Day 2: Tarangire National Park Game Drive

Following breakfast at your hotel, set off for Tarangire National Park, a standout destination on Tanzania’s Northern Circuit celebrated for its iconic giant baobab trees and density of African elephant herds.

After checking into your lodge and enjoying lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive. Scan the open savannah for zebras, impalas, gazelles, waterbucks, giraffes, and diverse bird species. Conclude the day watching a classic East African sunset over the wilderness.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury / Lower-Luxury: Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge
  • Mid-Range: Hhando Coffee Lodge
  • Budget: Eileen’s Tree Inn
• Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater Floor Game Drive

After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a natural amphitheater and UNESCO World Heritage site. Optional stop en route at Olduvai Gorge, the historic “Cradle of Humankind.”

Following lunch, descend 2,000 feet onto the crater floor. Explore the diverse ecosystems surrounding Lake Magadi, famous for its flocks of flamingos. Search for the legendary Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and the elusive black rhino), along with cheetahs, wildebeests, and hippos.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury / Lower-Luxury: Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge
  • Mid-Range: Hhando Coffee Lodge
  • Budget: Eileen’s Tree Inn
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4: Journey to Serengeti National Park & Afternoon Game Drive

Depart after breakfast for the world-famous Serengeti National Park. Transit through scenic highlands before descending onto the endless plains that define the Serengeti ecosystem.

Enjoy game viewing en route to your lodge. Keep your camera ready for predator-prey action, lion prides resting on rocky kopjes, and—depending on the season—the herds of the Great Wildebeest Migration. Read our guide on The Best Time to Visit Serengeti.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Lower-Luxury: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
  • Mid-Range: Central Serengeti Bush Camp / Lodge
  • Budget: Tukaone Serengeti Camp
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Days 5 & 6: Full-Day Serengeti Wildlife Safaris

Spend two full days immersed in the heart of the Serengeti National Park. Rise early for morning game drives when wildlife activity peaks, catching predators on the hunt and herbivores grazing in the cool morning light.

Return to camp for lunch before setting out on afternoon safaris across the open plains. Track big cats (cheetahs, leopards, and lions), watch hippos cool off in muddy pools, and observe vast herds of wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, and antelopes roaming freely.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Lower-Luxury: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
  • Mid-Range: Central Serengeti Bush Camp / Lodge
  • Budget: Tukaone Serengeti Camp
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 7: Drive to Lake Manyara National Park

Enjoy breakfast at your camp before departing for Lake Manyara National Park, nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment. Famous for its unique tree-climbing lions and lush groundwater forest, Manyara offers dramatic landscape contrasts.

After lunch, take an afternoon game drive through forest trails and lakefront floodplains to spot baboons, blue monkeys, elephants, giraffes, and hippos.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge
  • Mid-Range: Manyara Wildlife Safari Lodge
  • Budget: Twiga Lodge & Campsite
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8: Lake Manyara Canoeing & Guided Walking Safari

Start your day with an active canoeing adventure on the alkaline waters of Lake Manyara. Glide past flocks of pink flamingos and view aquatic wildlife from a unique water-level perspective. Return to your lodge to relax by the pool through early afternoon.

In the late afternoon, join an expert armed ranger for a guided walking safari. Step off the vehicle to track animal footprints, learn about local flora, and experience nature up close on foot.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge
  • Mid-Range: Manyara Wildlife Safari Lodge
  • Budget: Twiga Lodge & Campsite
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 9: Cultural Village Cycling Tour, Drive to Arusha & Fly to Zanzibar

After a relaxed breakfast, take a guided cycling tour through local banana plantations and rural villages near Mto wa Mbu, getting an authentic glimpse of Tanzanian countryside life.

Afterward, transfer back to Arusha to catch your domestic flight to Zanzibar Island. Upon landing at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), your Zanzibar host will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury: Zanzibar Serena Hotel
  • Mid-Range: The Seyyida Hotel & Spa
  • Budget: Tembo House Hotel
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 10: Coastal Relaxation at Leisure

Spend a restful day recovering from your safari adventures. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, relax by the swimming pool, stroll along the beach, or take in panoramic views of the Indian Ocean from your resort.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury: Zanzibar Serena Hotel
  • Mid-Range: The Seyyida Hotel & Spa
  • Budget: Tembo House Hotel
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 11: Stone Town City Tour, Prison Island & Organic Spice Excursion

Board a private wooden boat from historic Stone Town to Changuu (Prison) Island. Meet the resident Aldabra giant tortoises, learn about the island’s history, and enjoy time for snorkeling off the beach.

Return to the mainland for a guided Zanzibar Spice Tour. Walk through aromatic plantations to taste, smell, and learn about island spices, including cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, which gave Zanzibar its reputation as the “Spice Island.”

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort
  • Mid-Range: Nungwi Dreams by Mantis (Sea View Rooms)
  • Budget: Fun Beach Resort
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 12: Tropical Zanzibar Beach Experience

Dedicate the full day to pure beach relaxation along Zanzibar’s northern or eastern coast. Swim in turquoise tropical waters, sunbathe on soft white sands, or partake in optional water sports.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort
  • Mid-Range: Nungwi Dreams by Mantis (Sea View Rooms)
  • Budget: Fun Beach Resort
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 13: Full-Day “Safari Blue” Dhow Sailing Excursion

Experience Zanzibar’s premier ocean excursion aboard a traditional wooden dhow. Sail across Menai Bay Conservation Area, stopping at secluded sandbanks and coral reefs for world-class snorkeling.

Enjoy a fresh seafood buffet lunch featuring tropical fruits and cold drinks, explore hidden mangrove lagoons, and sail back as the sun begins to set.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort
  • Mid-Range: Nungwi Dreams by Mantis (Sea View Rooms)
  • Budget: Fun Beach Resort
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 14: Beachfront Leisure & Sunset Views

Enjoy your final full day in paradise at your own pace. Unwind on the beach, book a spa treatment, or take a quiet evening walk along the shore to watch your last Zanzibar sunset.

• Accommodation Options:
  • Luxury: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort
  • Mid-Range: Nungwi Dreams by Mantis (Sea View Rooms)
  • Budget: Fun Beach Resort
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 15: Departure from Zanzibar

Enjoy breakfast at your resort before your driver transfers you to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) for your onward or international flight home.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast included

Tour Inclusions & Exclusions

What is Included:

• Private 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for optimal game viewing
• Professional, English-speaking safari guide and driver
• All accommodations as specified in the itinerary
• All meals as noted (Full Board during safari & stay)
• All National Park entry fees, transit fees, concession fees, and Ngorongoro Crater fees
• Domestic flight from Arusha (ARK/JRO) to Zanzibar (ZNZ)
• Scheduled excursions in Zanzibar (Stone Town, Prison Island, Spice Tour, Safari Blue)
• Complimentary bottled mineral water in the safari vehicle
• All airport transfers (Arusha/Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar)
• Applicable government taxes and levies

What is Excluded:

• International flights to/from Tanzania
• Tanzania Tourist Entry Visa fees
• Travel, medical, and evacuation insurance
• Pre-tour and post-tour accommodation in Arusha or Zanzibar (unless requested)
• Items of a personal nature (laundry, souvenir shopping, internet, extra beverages)
• Tips and gratuities for safari drivers, local tour guides, and hotel staff
• Optional activities not specified in the main itinerary

Ready for the Ultimate Tanzanian Adventure?
From witnessing the wild plains of the Serengeti to sinking your toes into the powdery white sands of Zanzibar, your dream East African journey starts here.

Space at our luxury and mid-range safari lodges fills up quickly—especially during the Wildebeest Migration season.

📞 Speak with a Rowin Africa Safaris Expert Today 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best month for a 15-day Tanzania and Zanzibar safari?

The best month for this ultimate Tanzania bush and beach safari holiday if June to October and January to March. These are the dry season months and also the peak season of travel. These are also the migration months.

Is this safari suitable for families or solo travelers?

This safari is for all kinds of travelers: we customize it to fit your travel group and preference. Family, solo, honeymoon, couples and more are all catered for.

What should I pack for a combined safari and beach holiday?

For a seamless safari-to-coast adventure, pack neutral-toned lightweight clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a fleece layer, sunscreen, insect repellent, high-quality binoculars, and a camera with a zoom lens. For your island escape, throw in swimwear, light linen attire, sandals, a dry bag, reef shoes, and modest clothing covering shoulders and knees for cultural excursions like Stone Town. Wrap everything up with a UK Type-G plug adapter, portable power bank, essential travel documents, and pack it all into a soft-sided duffel bag to meet domestic flight luggage limits. Plan accordingly for this Tanzania bush to beach package.